The Beeching cuts (also Beeching Axe) refer to the reduction of route network and restructuring of the Railways in Great Britain outlined in two reports, The Reshaping of British Railways (1963) and The Development of the Major Railway Trunk Routes (1965), written by Dr Richard Beeching and published by the British Railways Board. More information on the Wikipedia page [1]. A page on the London area cuts is here [2]. What was then the North London Line was proposed for closure, but spared as it provided a vital interconnection.